PowerBook · The Beige Era · 1994
PowerBook 520
The 520 was the affordable Blackbird — the model that put Apple’s new trackpad, stereo speakers and built-in Ethernet within reach of ordinary buyers.
Entry point to the trackpad-and-Ethernet 500 series.
PowerBook 190 (1995)
PowerBook 520: key facts
When was the PowerBook 520 released?
The PowerBook 520 arrived in May 1994. Apple discontinued it in June 1995.
How much did the PowerBook 520 cost?
The PowerBook 520 launched at $2,270 in 1994 — about $4,835 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68LC040 at 25 MHz, 4 MB RAM, 160 MB storage, 9.5" passive-matrix grayscale display.
Why does the PowerBook 520 matter?
Entry point to the trackpad-and-Ethernet 500 series.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68LC040 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 36 MB) |
| Storage | 160 MB |
| Display | 9.5" passive-matrix grayscale |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial, PCMCIA, Ethernet |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Clamshell laptop |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | May 1994 |
| Discontinued | June 1995 |
| Launch price | $2,270 |
How the PowerBook 520 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4,100× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 25 MHz, the clock is roughly 128× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
All of this storage holds about 40 modern phone photos.
Launched at $2,270 in 1994 — about $4,835 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Related PowerBook models
Open the PowerBook 520 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-29